Govt denies claim of Nimisha Priya execution cancellation.
The Office of the Grand Mufti of India recently claimed that Nimisha Priya’s death sentence in Yemen had been officially cancelled, bringing hope to her supporters. However, government sources have now firmly rejected this assertion, stating that no such confirmation has been received through official diplomatic channels. The situation remains unchanged, and efforts are reportedly ongoing to secure her release through legal and diplomatic means.
Government Denies Claims of Nimisha Priya’s Death Sentence Being Cancelled in Yemen
The hope that briefly flickered for Nimisha Priya, a Kerala-born nurse on death row in Yemen, dimmed again on Tuesday as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that her death sentence has not been officially cancelled, contrary to recent reports.
Her case has since drawn national and international attention, invoking widespread appeals for clemency and compassion — not only because of the brutal nature of the sentence but also due to the emotional plea of a mother who is desperately fighting for her life and for a chance to return to her daughter in India.
On Monday, the Office of the Grand Mufti of India, Kanthapuram A.P. Citing a high-level meeting in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, the Grand Mufti’s office said the decision had been taken to completely cancel her sentence, which had earlier been temporarily suspended.
However, within 24 hours of this hopeful development, MEA sources denied receiving any official confirmation of such a decision from Yemen.
The Grand Mufti’s office also later clarified that while a positive development had reportedly taken place, no formal written confirmation had been received from the Yemeni authorities.
The conflicting reports have once again plunged Nimisha’s family and well-wishers into uncertainty. Her mother, Lissy, has been leading a relentless campaign for her daughter’s life, tirelessly appealing to Indian and Yemeni authorities. Over the past several months, she has traveled, met religious leaders, and taken part in public awareness drives — all in the hope of bringing her daughter back home.
It was halted just a day before, following a direct and urgent appeal by Grand Mufti Musliyar to Yemeni officials, requesting clemency. That intervention brought a moment of relief to the family and supporters, many of whom had spent anxious weeks trying to raise ransom money as part of the traditional blood money system allowed in Yemen’s legal framework.
The case has grown in complexity due to the volatile political environment in Yemen. Both Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi and Houthi leader Mahdi al-Mashat had approved the execution in late 2024 and early 2025, respectively. This dual-layered authority structure has made diplomatic negotiations more difficult, with multiple power centers involved in the decision-making process.
Over the past year, the Indian government, along with religious leaders and human rights activists, has been engaged in sustained diplomatic efforts to commute the sentence. Multiple appeals, both legal and humanitarian, have been filed. The Indian diaspora and civil society groups have also mobilized support and funds in the hope of securing a pardon or negotiated release.
For now, Nimisha remains on death row, her fate uncertain. And while her mother continues to hold on to hope, the road ahead remains difficult and unclear.
There is still cautious optimism among those close to the case. Many believe that the temporary suspension and ongoing dialogue could still pave the way for a permanent solution. But until there is written confirmation from the Yemeni authorities, Nimisha Priya’s future remains heartbreakingly uncertain — caught in the crosshairs of geopolitics, diplomacy, and a mother’s unyielding love.